Donna Moss smothered a yawn as she walked down the
sidewalk toward her boss's apartment building at seven
a.m.. She'd driven most of the night
to get back to D.C. in time. During the long drive
she'd had nothing to do but think....about her
life....her job....her relationship or lack
thereof with Josh Lyman.

Halfway to her apartment she had swung the car into a
u-turn; it was time for a change. She couldn't stifle
her feelings for Josh any longer. One way or another Donna had to know if he could ever
return them.

Now she stood in front of his apartment door, her hand
raised to knock. His car was parked on the street so she knew he wasn't
at work. Taking a deep breath Donna knocked twice.
Silence. After several long minutes Donna knocked again,
louder.

**********

A sharp pounding woke Josh from his alchol induced
slumber. He winced at the bright sunlight as he slowly
sat up in the wicker chair. The world
spun as a result causing Josh to sit still for several
minutes. Once the world righted itself Josh stood and
stumbled into the living room.

The pounding sound came again and it took Lyman a few
minutes to realize the noise wasn't in his head.
As he passed the tv, Josh squinted at the clock on the
vcr--seven.

Josh struggled to wake himself up as he reached the
front door. As he opened it and saw the person
standing in the hallway, the world spun
again.

Josh leaned heavily on the door for support.
He had to be hallucinating....that was the only
explanation....or he was still asleep.

Donna frowned in concern as she took in her boss's
appearence. "Josh?Are you alright?"

Josh squeezed his eyes shut struggling to get control.
If this didn't get him to stop drinking he didn't know
what would. Whoever ths poor woman was she must think
he's crazy.

As Josh opened his eyes and once again saw Donna
standing in the hallway, his mind reeled.
'Maybe I am crazy.'

Donna reached out and placed a gentle hand on Lyman's
left shoulder.

"Josh, you were drinking again, weren't you?"She
sighed and ducked under his arm and stepped into the
apartment. "Do you actually have coffee in
the apartment or do I have to go buy some like last
time?"

By the time she reached the kitchen she realized that
he hadn't followed her. In fact he was still standing
in the doorway. Donna turned away from the small
counter, worry in her blue eyes.

"Josh?"Moss called as she crossed the space between
them, "Are you alright? Did something happen while I
was gone? Did you and Joey have a fight?"

Lyman still had his back to her so Donna reached up
and placed a hand on his shoulder turning him to face
her.

"Josh?"Donna repeated her concern growing by the
minute. The last time she had seen him like this was
during the campaign when they learned his father had
died.

In a move faster than she thought he could make in his
hangovered condition Josh grabbed her by the waist and
swept her off her feet and into his arms twirling her
around the apartment.

"Josh....what?"Donna asked as Lyman kicked the door
shut.

"Where were you?"Josh asked in a choked voice his eyes
bright with unshed tears.

Donna rolled her eyes. "Joshua, you may have graduated
from Harvard and Yale but sometimes you have a mind
like a sieve. I told you repeatedly that I was going
on vacation while you were in London. I even wrote it
on your calendar....."

Lyman gently set her back on her feet and drew her
into a crushing bearhug. "Thank God."He whispered as
he rested his chin on her head.

"Joshua, I can't breathe."Donna mumbled into his
chest.

Josh pulled away from her enough so he could see her
face. He reached up and touched her right cheek still
not quite believing that she was alive.

Donna watched him with concern as she gently pulled
his hand away from her face. "Josh, you're starting to
scare me. Will you please tell me what's going on?"

Josh stared at her for a long moment before nodding.
"I thought you were dead," he replied quietly.

Donna blinked in surprise as she stepped away from
him. "What?! How?"

Josh placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her to
the sofa. Once they were seated he began to tell her
of the nightmare of the last twenty four hours. "After we got back from London Monday
night I was halfway home before I realized that you
had a file I needed for the meeting with
Senator Benton. When I got to your apartment building
police cars and an ambulance lined the street. I
finally got to your apartment to find police
swarming....they said they had a body matching your
description."

Donna sank heavily back into the cushions. "Oh my
God....Trisha."

Josh took her left hand in his watching her with
concern. "Who's Trisha?"

Donna swallowed hard as she fought back tears. "She's
a friend of mine who works at the State department.
Needed a place to stay while her apartment was being
painted. I offered her my place since I was going to
be out of town....oh God Josh.....this is my fault."

Lyman shook his head as he drew her into an embrace.
"No, Donna, it's not. There's no way you could've
known."